Case for books or the like



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May Z7, 1930. A. STE'HNSQHNEZE@ CASE FOR BOOKS OR THE LIKE Fiied July 27 'Patented May 27, 1930 `UNITED vSTATES ABRAHAM STEINSCHNEIDER, OF BERLIN, GERMANY CASE FOR BOOrKS OR THE LIKE Application ined July a?, 1929, seriai no.

My invention refers to a case or a cabinet for storing books or other articles on super posed shelves, and more especially to the kind of case in which an'endless row of superposed shelves` is supported by a pair of endless chains and can be raised or lowered by moving the chains, so that each shelf can be moved in. range of the eyes or hands of a person standing in front of the case.

Ill-order that the shelves can be arranged in superposition without any appreciable clearance between them, they are as a rule not suspended directly on the chain-links, but there are provided on the chains arms projecting at right angles tothe chains, pins being secured to the free ends of these arms to supportrthe shelves. .In this construction each shelf, when passing over the sprockets carrying the chains', will be spaced from the 2o shelf next following about the len th ofthe arms carrying it, as otherwise a co lision between adjoining shelves could not be avoided. This construction involves the drawback, that the shelves'being suspended at the outer '-25 ends of the arms, instead of at the, chain dil the arms in horlzontal direction and providing means for guiding the shelves in these slots in such manner, that on the vertically ascending and descending portions of vthe chain the .pins xed to the shelves and projecting into the slots bear against the .inner ends thereof so that the shelves are suspended in the plane of travelling of the chain, whereby all lateral strains on the chain are avoided.

I further provide means for. avoiding co1- lision between superpo'sed'shelves when passing around the sprockets, the pins xed to the shelves beingl shifted by suitable guiding 5o means adjoining the sprockets towards the 381,481, and in .Germany August 16, 1928.

outer ends of the slots in the supporting arms, so that in the top and bottom positions-the shelf passing around the sprockets will be spaced sufficiently from thel shelf next following.

In the drawings affixed to this specification and forming part thereof, two modifications of a mechanism embodying my invention are illustrated diagrammatically by way of example.

In the drawings Y Fig. l is a vertical section 'of an endless row of shelves with one of the chains supporting them,

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the top part of the chain and sprocket wheel carrying same illustrating the way in which the shelves are being guidedwhen passin over the sprocket,

Fig. 3 illustrates a modlfied form of guiding means for the shelves passing over the sprocket, andi Figs. 4 and 5 are front elevations, partly in axial section, of a sprocket and a guide disc cooperating therewith.

Referring first to Figs. l and 2, 1 is the shaft carrying the upper sprocket wheels 2 and 3 is an endless chain supported on this sprocket wheel. 2l is the shaft of the lower sprocket wheel 2. Il are slotted arms fixed at intervals to the chain and extending at right angles thereto, and 5 are the horizontal slots provided in these arms. 6 are the ins fixed-to the middle of the top portion o the shelves and projecting freely into the slots and 7 are the shelves themselves, which are 85 thus suspended from the arms 4 by means of the pins `6, which are so arranged, that when ascending or descending the shelves are held in their normal position. A guide disc 8 is associated with each sprocket 2, the diameter 9 of these guide discs being greater than the diameter of the sprockets, and therefore the pins 6 fixed to the shelves. when meeting these discs, will be shifted outwardly in contact with the circumferential edges of the discs and towards the outer -ends of the slots in which they are loosely supported. In consequence'of this .shifting movement the ascending shelf which is inl course of being moved around the sprockets, will be spaced the shelf next following about ,a disends of the straight guide rails 9 which hold the pins in contact with the ascending or descending branches of the chain. After having passed around the sprockets thepins with the shelves will be shifted again inwardly towards the inner ends of the arms and into the plane of travelling of the vertical branch of the chain by the curved guide rails 10 provided for this purpose.

In order that the shelf bottoms be maintained in horizontal position, while the'. shelves are starting on the way around the' I provide separate pins 11 near;-

sprockets, the outer bottom corner of the side walls 'of each shelf. As shown in Fig. 3. a separate curved rail 12 is provided near the top end of the ascending branch of each chain, this curved guide rail 12 catching the pin llof the shelf which is about to be carried around the sprocket and the pin 11 will thus be guided by the rail 12 and the shelf will be revented from assuming an oblique position.

bviously the rail 1 2 must end at the point where the pins 6 are leaving the ascending branch of the chain to be shifted outwardly by the discs 8. In order to further guide the pins 11 and the shelves on their way downwardly, after the shelf has passed around the sprockets, I provide al further curved rail 18 between the two branches of each chain. However, as this guide nail 13 acts on the pins 11 only from above, a toothed chain 16 supported on a disc 14 and a sprocket wheel 15 and guided by a curved guide way 18 is provided, the teeth 17 of this chain catching below the pin 11 and providing for its positive guidance in contact with the downwardly irected guide rail l13. Y

In order to revent the pin 11 from slipping through t e gap between the` guide rails 12 and 13', I further provide on each side Wall l` of the shelf a third pin 19 which is arranged y ygap etween guided by a switch slightly above and sideways of the pin 11, this in 19, after havingpassed through the the guide rails 12 and 13, being or short rail 2O which guides the pin 19, when the pin 11 is about to pass from the rail 12 over the rail 13. While pin 11 is travelling past the gap between the two rails, pin 19 is depressed by the rail 20, whereb p1n 11 is prevented from slippingl through t egap.

wis it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described for obvious modifications will occur` to a Aperson skilled in the art.

In the claims ailixed to this specification no selection of any particular modification of row of superposed shelves, an endless chain extending vertically at either end of said row of shelves, a top and a bottom sprocket wheel for supporting and guiding each chain, slotted arms fixed to and extending at right angles to said chains and a pin at each end of 4each shelf projecting into the slot of an arm.

2. Case for books or the like comprising a row of superposed shelves, an endless chain extending vertically at either end of said row 'of shelves, a top and a bottom sprocket wheel l'for supporting and guiding each chain, slot- .ted arms fixed to and extending at right angles to said chains, a pin at 'each end of each shelf projecting into the slot of an arm and means near the vertical branch of each chain for keeping said pins near the inner ends of said slots.l I

3. Case for books or the like comprising a row of superposed shelves, an endless chain extending vertically at either end of said .row of shelves, a top and a bottom sprocket wheel for supporting and guiding each chain, slotted arms xed to and extending at right angles to said chains, a pin at eachend of each shelf projecting into the slot of an arm, means near the vertical branch of each chain for keeping said pins near the inner ends of said slots and means near said wheels for shifting said pins towards the outer ends of said slots.

4. Case for books or the like comprising a row of superposed'shelves, an endless chain extending vertically at either end of said row of shelves, a top and a bottom sprocket -wheel for supporting and guiding each chain, slotted arms fixed to and extending at right angles to said chains, a pin 'at each end of each shelf projecting intothe slot of an arm f ted arms fixed .to and extending at right an gles to said chains, a pin at each end of each shelf projecting into the slot of an arm,

straight guide rails near the vertical branch of each chain for keeping said pins near the' inner ends of said slots and discs near said wheels for shifting said pins towards the outer ends of said slots.

6. Case for books or the like comprising a row of superposed shelves, an endless hain extending vertically at either end of said row of shelves, a top and a bottom sprocket wheel for supporting andguiding each chain, slotted arms ixed to and extending at right angles to vsaid chains, a pin at each end of each shelf proj ectinginto the slot of an arm, means near the vertical branch of each chain for keeping said pins nearthe'inner ends of said slots andmeans near saidwheels for shifting said ins towards the outer ends of said slots and ack again.

7. Case for books or the like comprising a.

row of superposed shelves, an endless chain extending vertically at either end of said row of shelves, a top and a bottom sprocket wheel for supporting and guiding each chain, slotted arms fixed to and extending at right angles to said chains, a pin at each end of each shelf projecting into the slot ofV an arm,

straight guide rails near the vertical branch of each chain for keeping said lpins near the inner ends of said slots, dlscs near said wheels for shifting said pins towards the outer ends of said slots and curved rails for shifting said pins back again towards the inneiI ends of p said slots.

8. Case for books or the'like comprising a row of superposed shelves, an endless chain extending vertically at either end of said row of shelves, a top and ay bottom sprocket wheel for -supporting and guiding each chain,'slot ted arms yfixed to and ,extending at right an glesfto saidvchains, a pin at each end of each shelf projecting into the slot of an arm, means near the vertical branch of each `chain for keeping said pins near the inner ends of said slots, means near said Wheels for shifting said pins towards the outer ends of said slots and means for maintaining said'shelves in their A while they areybein'g shifted'horizontally to'- straight guide'rals near the vertical branch of each chainfor keeping said pins near the inner ends of said slots, discs near said wheels 4 for shifting said pins towards the outer ends of said slots, a second pin at each endof each shelf and curved rails and endless toothed chains for guiding said second pins so as to maintain said shelves in their normal position While they are being shifted horizontally to'- v gether with their pins.

A11. Case for books or the like comprising a row of superposed shelves, an endless .chain extending vertically at either end of said row of shelves, a top and a bottom sprocket wheel for supporting and guiding each chain, slot- 'ted arms fixed to and extending at right an- 'chainsfor guiding said second pins so as to maintain said shelves in' their normal position gether-with their pins, a third pin at each thirdlpins so as to bring said second pins into engagement with aid toothed chains. t lIn testimony w ereof I affix my signature.

ABRAHAM STEINSCHNEIDER.

normal position,1while they are being shifted i' angles to said chains, a pin at each end of, s

each shelf projecting into the slot of an arm,

straight'guide rails near the vertical branch of each chain for keeping said pins near the inner ends of said slots, discs near said wheels for shifting said pins towards the outer end of said slot, a second pin at each end of each shelf and curved rails for guiding said second pins so as to maintain said shelves in their normal position while they are being shifted horizontally together with their pins.

10. Case for books or thelike comprising a row of superposed shelves,` an endless chain extending vertically at either end of said row ofshelves, a top and a bottom sprocket wheel for supporting and guiding each chain, slot- `end of a shelf and switches for guiding said f: Se

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